Do police look for a 17 yo runaway in washington?

[ccsmod3]

Hi, thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you are planning on running away before mom potentially sends you to a boarding school. That sounds like a very stressful situation. So what could happen if you run away, is mom could report that to the police and if the police find you, you would likely be brought back home. Also anyone you stay with could be charged with what’s called harboring a runaway, though the penalties for that can vary. We want to help as best as we can and can do so by having a conversation with you, if you would like to talk more about what’s going on or some options, please either call our hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat us online at 1800runawau.org. We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

Hi i am 14 i will be 15 in a week and i plan on running away but i want to know what will happen to me if my mom calls the cops i live in tacoma washington please help me i dont want to live here anymore and my mom is talking about sending me to a boarding school

[ccsmod9]

Thank you for reaching out to NRS. It shows a lot of courage. We are by no means legal experts but we do know that it is not illegal to runway, instead it is considered a status offense. This means that the police can return you to your home. It could be worth exploring your options of where you are going to stay and how you are going to support yourself when considering your actions for your plan. We do have an option called a conference call where you call, and we act as in between with you and your parents to help both parties come up with a plan that works for the both of you. It can be frustrating when you feel like your opinions are not taken into consideration. It is important to remember that you can always reach out to us, and we can talk in more details about what going on and what resources might work best for you. We are 24/7 can be reached through chat or phone at https://www.1800runaway.org/ and 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

Stay safe and stay strong,

NRS

hello is it okay if i runaway?
my name is ***** and im 15. my life has been eh and my parents not giving me any privacy at all. i have talked to my partner about running away.... i just dont know what to to

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thanks for contacting NRS. It’s understandable you’re looking for independence when you are so close to turning 18. While we are not legal experts, we can speak in general terms. Typically, there are three ways you can leave legally:

The easiest way to leave is through receiving permission to leave from your legal guardian. We realize this can be difficult; maybe there is a friend, colleague, or relative who could help communicate how you’re feeling.

If safety is a concern, Child Protective Services may be another option.

Lastly, if you can show you can support yourself financially and independently, emancipation might be an option. Emancipation grants minors the legal rights of adults. This may be a lengthy and expensive process, so it is not always advised, especially when you are close to turning 18.

With all of this said, the exact rules differ by Tennessee and local laws, and your best choice may vary depending on your unique circumstances. We encourage you to reach out through online chat or phone. The online chat link is on our website (www.1800runaway.org), and our phone number is 1-800-RUN-AWAY.

We look forward to hearing from you soon. Stay safe and best wishes,

NRS

I have very little time before i turn 18 is it legal to leave 3 months before my 18 b day in tenneseee

[ccsmod5]

Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We are here to listen and help as best as we can. It sounds like you are going through a really tough time not having your youth home and being unsure of their safety. He is lucky to have someone that cares so much about them.

You mentioned not knowing if you should report your son as a runaway or not, typically we do recommend you do so. You can further explore this by contacting your local law enforcement to file a runaway report. We are not legal experts here, but typically it is not illegal to run away or leave home without permission. It’s considered a status offense and typically parents are not held responsible for this; still it would be helpful to contact the non-emergency number for your local police to gather as much information as possible. However, if a runaway report is filed, police that encounter a runaway youth will work to return them home when found. Keep in mind though, that the efforts made to search for runaway youth can vary from state to state or even within districts. Often it is up to the parents to advocate for themselves and keep track of the steps taken to find your youth.

If you have a way to communicate with your son either email, text, phone, or social media you can inform them that we are offer confidential 24/7 support. We can try to locate some resources that could be of assistance, wherever they are located, to help keep them safe. If you do not have contact with your child, we also offer a message service where parents can call us to leave a message for their child. If the youth calls in, we can deliver this message. We also take messages from youth to their parents that we deliver. This can be a great option for you to express yourself in a safe, productive, and non-confrontational way. If you choose to utilize our message service, its best to spread the word to anyone you think may be in contact with your child to increase the chances of your message being retrieved.

During a time like this, it can be important to remember your own self-care. Taking care of yourself and feeling heard can make an overwhelming situation more manageable. You can always call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY to talk or find additional resources.

Stay strong,
NRS

Hi. My 17 yo son will be 18 in 4 weeks. He ran away from home his morning because I tried to take him back to rehab for drug use. We live in Washington State. Do we need to report him as a runaway? He has a phone with service we pay for and he has promised to let us know he is okay. Are there any legal risks to not reporting him or any legal protections in reporting him. I am specifically worried about him committing crime and his dad and I being liable for it because he is still a minor.

[ccsmod9]

Hi there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.

While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.

We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by forum to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.

Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).

If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.

Be safe,

NRS

I feel like running away but i don’t want to get in trouble, at the same time I want to leave my home and continue my Highschool studies just out of my home for the time being.

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.
While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
Be safe,
NRS

Will the cops take me back home if I run away at 17 and a half i live in Washington

[ccsmod15]

Hi -

Thanks for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We appreciate you reaching out and sharing a bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you’re in a very tough, stressful situation. It’s great that you are looking for options and resources.

While we are not experts on the law, typically an individual must be at least 18 years old to leave home legally without permission from their legal guardian. If you leave your group home before you turn 18, your legal guardian may file a report on you as a runaway with the police.

If this happens and you stay with your friend, they may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. You would also most likely be returned to your foster home.

For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.

We are here as support to help through this challenging time. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon. Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).

If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.

Be safe,
NRS

Hi, I was wondering. Im in foster care and I turn 18 in less than a month but I live in a very unstable and abusive group home. I don't feel safe here. I was wondering if my friend could get in trouble if they took me in until I'm 18?

[ccsmod16]

Hi,
Thank you for reaching out to us; we are glad that you did. It sounds like you have survived and gone through so very much, between the sexual abuse you survived and the abuse by your grandfather and his wife, you are clearly a very strong person, and so very brave. You care about your siblings which shows you are also a warm and loving person, in spite of all the hurt you've survived.
We are glad to hear that you are in a safe environment and we hope that you can stay. You never, ever deserved any of the treatment you endured. None of what you went through is OK at all. Clearly there is concern about your younger siblings in the home where, it sounds like, you were sexually abused by your stepdad.
Because you posted in our public forum and your situation is so specific, we truly hope that you will reach out to us either by our phone hotline at 1-800-786-2929 (1-800-RUNAWAY), or chat us through this website. Being able to have a conversation with you about all of this will help us help you discover your options and make a plan for your situation, whether that is looking for a legal resource for you or something else that we think of together while talking.
We truly hope that you will reach out to us. We are here 24/7 and are confidential to you. You deserve help, and we will do our best to help you find it.
Sincerely,
NRS